US grants Pak F-16 upgrade funds
The Bush administration has cleared the transfer of $227 million of foreign military funds (FMF) to Pakistan for its F-16s mid-life update programme.
By Agencies |
WASHINGTON: The Bush administration has cleared the transfer of $227 million of foreign military funds (FMF) to Pakistan for its F-16s mid-life update programme, despite opposition to it from two Congressional leaders.
According to a newspaper, the upgraded F-16s and additional funds will be used as a counter insurgency measure in Pakistan's volatile Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). Earlier, two senior House Members, Howard L Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Nita M Lowey, expressed concern that the proposal would "divert funds from more effective counter-terrorism tools."
They requested a hold to be placed on the planned reprogramming and proposed that Congress provide 200 million dollars in budgetary support to Pakistan.
A State Department spokesman has now asserted that Islamabad sought and was granted the consideration so as to provide much-needed financial relief to the Pakistani government.
According to a newspaper, the upgraded F-16s and additional funds will be used as a counter insurgency measure in Pakistan's volatile Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). Earlier, two senior House Members, Howard L Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Nita M Lowey, expressed concern that the proposal would "divert funds from more effective counter-terrorism tools."
They requested a hold to be placed on the planned reprogramming and proposed that Congress provide 200 million dollars in budgetary support to Pakistan.
A State Department spokesman has now asserted that Islamabad sought and was granted the consideration so as to provide much-needed financial relief to the Pakistani government.
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